Connecticut western news., 1887-10-19
IN THE SOUTH.
An Attempt Made to Destroy the
 Presidents Train.

MEMPHIS, Oct. 15.-When the pilot train, preceding the Presidential train, arrived at trestle between Bannerville and Jonesboro, Ark, yesterday morning, the engineer discov- cred the trestle to be on fire. He did not make the discovery until it was too late to stop the train before the engine had passed over the burning portion. As soon as pos ible he backed the train off the the trestle and Jumped down to examine the fire. He found that 8 section about ten feet square WIS in flames, and that the fire had been started on the under side of the timbers. The engineer and all tho rest of the trainmen, with the help of some of the passengers, succeeded in putting out the fire when it was dis covered that the flames had not eaten dangerously far into the wood and the trestle was still safe for the passage of trains Had the tain been ten minutes later, however, there might have been another Chatsworth horror to chronicle.
 reporter made a careful examination of the burned timbers, which gave unmlstakable evidence of an attempt at train wrackng. The fire was started on the under side of the cross tree in such a manner that there can be no possible belief that sparks were the cause of 1t. Then too, the fire was certainly set to more than one tie at a tim,, for it could not have jumped from one to another without burning the sides of tho timber more than it did. The conclusion is irresistible that some body applied torch to eight or nine of the timbers.
 The President and Mrs Cleveland at o'clock
  tended by 3 3,0O0 ladies and gentlemen invited bv the Committee of Arrangements.
 This morning the Presidents party and a large escort drove through the principal streets of the city. The procession was headed by a band of music and the military. Memphis is not a beautiful city-it bears too many of the scars of war and pestilence, but 1t is a very busy one. The old-time, ante-war architect ure showing small and rusty fronts, prevails largely, but in its main business thoroughfares modern structures of subst antlal appearance are showing themselves, while the wharves and warehouses show the energy of its busl- ness men, and give promise of prosperous future.
 The ride through the town was full of in- terest The decorations are probably more elaborate and more general than those of any place yet visited by the President, with the possible exception of Madison. Whatever gay colors could do to make the occasion success has been done. Twice along the line of march beautiful boquets of flowers in unique designs were lowered into the Presidents carriage. Twice as many people as ever were seen in town before were upon the streets, but good order was preserved by the mounted marshals.
 A large handsomely dressed stand in the centre of Court square was reached by the President about 10:S0 o'clock, and the formall- ties of the reception were begun.
 The formal speech of welcome was delivered by Judge H. T. Ellet of the Chancery Court, a courtly gentleman of high local repute, who spoke both for Memphis and for the South. lie extended, as the representative of the whole people of Memphis, hearty welcome, and presented the freedom of the city, Within five minutes from the time the President left the stand, Judge Ellet died from an apoplectic seizure,